asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on EEC aid for reconstruction of the Beira corridor as a means of securing for Zimbabwe and other landlocked countries in southern Africa transport routes alternative to those controlled by South Africa.

About 40 per cent. of the 110 mecu (over £75 million) available under the third Lomé convention for regional projects in southern Africa will be spent on improving transport and communications, particularly the Beira corridor. This was established in a memorandum of understanding which was signed by the European Commission and the member states of the Southern Africa Development Co-ordination Conference (SADCC) in January 1986. A project worth around 40 mecu (about £30 million) for essential improvements to Beira port is now being prepared by the European Commission.Britain will also be contributing bilaterally to the Beira corridor project.